5 Keys to a Happy New Year: Habits of Healthy People

At this point in your life, you’re probably aware of many of your weaknesses and bad habits. Perhaps you’ve resolved to change before, only to fall back into them. You’re not the only one.
If you believe in original sin, you know we are all inherently sick. But we’re not without hope—that’s the whole point of the Gospel. God’s working in our lives, even when it’s hard to see.
In this life, our options are either to be a sick person denying help or a person in remission. To get into and stay in remission is to actively seek the remedy to our self destruction. The difference is often simply acknowledging the work to be done. One of the keys to being a happier, healthier person is simply becoming more self-aware.
Healthy, happy people are not perfect, but they make a daily effort to be better than they have been. I’m talking about operating in the conviction of sin, a humble heart and a joy found in knowing there is grace. Some of this comes in the form of learning new, better habits and attitudes. And what better time to work on implementing new habits than the start of a new year?

1. Leave the House Without Your Cell Phone

Literally. Not on airplane mode. Not on silent. Try just leaving it home.
Oddly enough, the human desire for connection has made us dependent on a machine. Most of us can’t stand in a line up for 30 seconds without checking our email or social media. Our desire for constant connection often disconnects us from our surroundings and makes us insecure when we feel alone.
But being alone is not proof of lack of value. And being constantly plugged in does not necessarily increase the impact of our lives on the world around us. Christians especially need to remember that our cell phones are not our lifeline— prayer is.

2. Accept Compliments With a Simple “Thank You”

Especially in churches, there’s often a culture of false humility, where acknowledging achievement is viewed as prideful or self-serving. But taking a compliment does not make you prideful.
We all desperately pursue affirmation (#selfie), but when we are given a compliment, we often deny it. Or we quickly dismiss it and offer a quick, surface-level compliment in return. Yuck. People don’t appreciate being dismissed when they’re sincerely trying to encourage you. And they also don’t want your cheap return compliments.
Don't treat other people like liars when they say something good about you. Let yourself feel affirmed. Start by simply saying “Thank you.” You’ll be surprised by how good it feels and how your receptivity makes others feel valued in return. It also combats the lies we are told about who we are.

3. Seek the Root of Conflict

Have you ever been triggered by something that was seemingly random or menial? Does it ever seem trivial when you looked back on it? Do you get in arguments over things you never realized lit a passion in you?
Rather than blaming the person or situation that set you off, seek out the real root of the problem. Often, the real issue usually isn't even the problem at hand. Most of us have hurts in our past that made us believe a lie or negative idea about ourselves. We live our lives with these concepts mostly buried, until someone or something suddenly digs up the wound. Then we are suddenly overcome by a fear or hurt we had been ignoring.
Taking time to reflect on our feeling and the root issues makes us aware of what we are really upset about, rather than projecting hurt onto an unrelated situation or person. This creates a more effective approach to conflict.

4. Be Willing to Say, ‘I Was Wrong’

No one likes a person who constantly makes excuses. Refusing to admit you are wrong does not make you any more right. “To err is human”— if you aren't wrong sometimes, its time to call the mothership to pick you up.
There is such power in being willing to admit you messed up or had your facts wrong. It’s another way to show yourself and display to others that your value does not come from an (impossible) infallible nature.
“To forgive is divine” has a lot of meaning to it. It rings of the attribution of true forgiveness is that offered by God—but also the importance of forgiveness in our own lives. This brings us back to letting go of guilt. We will mess up, we will be wrong, and we find freedom in forgiveness—which can only be given after an admission of guilt.

5. Let Go of Your Guilt and Shame

Stop hanging onto and replaying your mistakes. As Christians, we are invited to take sin and guilt to the cross and leave them there. Yet, so many Christians are too busy navel-gazing to let go of their condemnation—even when standing at the foot of the Cross.
Real faith is repenting and believing you are forgiven—and then acting like it. The Bible never commands us to repent and then beat ourselves up for a while. We are not our own—or one another’s judge—so it’s not healthy to act like we can determine our own righteousness.
Understanding that we are not the ultimate power is a real display of humility and will make it a lot easier to find joy despite our imperfections.
Life only moves in one direction, and that direction is forward. May you find the new year full of possibilities, of revelations of identity, and void of the insecurities robbing you of a happy, healthy life.

by Timessa Lynn Leonard

Read more at http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life/5-keys-happy-new-year#ECS4wU1K6kPkIpfC.99

Christmas Activities that Make You Happier,

Christmas vacation activities that will actually make you happier  Yahoo Travel  Dec. 22, 2015

Christmas vacation is supposed to be fun. But when you’re traveling with the kids or staying with the in laws it can turn out to be stressful. So here are 10 holiday vacation activities that can actually make you happier and less stressed.

  "Home Alone" starring Macaulay Culkin is a classic movie that never gets old. (20th Century Fox via AP)

1. Watch a funny holiday movie.
You know those funny Christmas flicks that come out this time every year? (National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, anyone?) Well grab a cup of grandma’s hot chocolate, fire up the Netflix, and watch one, because research shows that laughing can actually improve your mood. “Stress is a fight or flight response, which makes us very serious and irritable,” explains psychologist Julie Pike. Laughing helps disrupt that. It ups your oxygen intake, which in turn stimulates the heart, lungs, and muscles, and lowers your blood pressure, according to the Mayo Clinic. “Laughter can also stimulate circulation and aid muscle relaxation, both of which help reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress,” says the Mayo Clinic.
2. Hug a loved one.
Sometimes it feels like the holidays are just an excuse to shop, but when it comes down to it, they’re really all about spending time with friends and family. So grab one of your loved ones for a big, long hug. “A sustained hug with someone you care about causes your body to release oxytocin,” a feel-good hormone, explains Pike. That in turn lowers your blood pressure and reduce stress, while boosting happiness.
3. Sprawl out on the couch.
Yes, we’re giving you permission to be a bit of couch potato this holiday, so find a comfy spot on cousin Frank’s couch and plop down. Why? Because sitting in an “expansive” position, i.e., with your arms and legs spread out, is actually a form of stress release. Of course, you only need to do it for two minutes to get the benefit, but there’s no harm in staying a little bit longer. People who sit in this position release lower levels of stress hormones than those who are all tensed up, according to Popular Science.

  Lounging in front of a fire can be a great way to decompress from the holiday stress. (iStock)

4. Be thankful.
Thanksgiving isn’t the only holiday during which we feel grateful. Maybe you’re thankful to be on a beautiful beach vacation for Christmas or grateful to be visiting relatives you don’t get to see very often. Whatever it is, write it down, says Pike: “When we focus on what is positive in the present, it helps re-orient us.”
5. Do Christmas crafts.
Whether it’s knitting a scarf on the plane, wrapping presents, or decorating a batch of Christmas cookies, crafting and creativity can increase happiness and reduce stress and anxiety. Experts believe when you find “flow” in creativity, it has effects similar to meditation. It also helps you focus on the now, rather than worrying or stressing out about what’s going on around you, explains Pike: “It keeps you in the present moment.”
6. Go Christmas caroling or sing at Church.
All that Christmas music on the radio during your road trip to grandma’s? (We’re talking to you, Mariah Carey!) Embrace it! Singing literally changes your brain chemistry, releasing endorphins and oxytocin, which boost your mood. And singing in a group — like caroling or a Church choir — is the most transformative, according to Time. Plus, research published in the Psychology of Music journal shows that singing in a choir is associated with decreased levels of anxiety. 
7. Kiss under the mistletoe.
Find yourself some mistletoe and a cute partner, and pucker up, because kissing boosts oxytocin and decreases cortisol, a stress hormone, according to research. It’s a similar effect to the hugging and other intimate pastimes. “Try to have lots of physical contact,” says Pike. Even if that means sexy time at the in laws house.
8. Take family photos.
Does staying with family in close quarters for the holidays have you at the end of your rope? Take some pictures of what’s going on: “The act of snapping photos detaches you from the emotional stress of the situation, and you become an observer, which can calm you,” says psychologist Pauline Wallin. And if you decide to post the photos on social media, find something funny to say about the situation. After all, if you’re going to laugh about it later, you may as well laugh about it now.

  Eating ham may actually chill you out. (iStock)

9. Eat ham for Christmas dinner — or roast some chestnuts.
First of all, eating in general stimulates happy chemical oxytocin, says Pike. And specifically, favorite holiday dinner foods like ham and turkey are high in the amino acid tryptophan, which your body converts to serotonin, another one of those feel-good brain chemicals. But don’t forget to have some mashed potatoes and rolls — the body needs carbs to help utilize the tryptophan. (Fun fact: Reindeer meat is actually even higher in tryptophan, but we doubt you want to eat Rudolph.) Nuts are also a good source of tryptophan, so roast those chestnuts by the open fire!
10. Chat with mom.
Ok, we know what you’re thinking — these one may seem more stress-inducing, depending on the mother. But studies show that a conversation with your mom for just 15 minutes can help lower cortisol levels and gives a big boost to oxytocin.